Elk County lies in southeastern Kansas, where Howard provides the clearest starting point for understanding settlements, roads, streams, and relief. Howard is the county seat, while Moline, Elk Falls, Longton, and Grenola form the other prominent communities shown on the supplied maps. The county changes noticeably from higher western hills to lower central and eastern valleys. High-resolution JPG files corresponding to the web maps can be downloaded together from the ZIP box later on this page. High-resolution map files are available for download in the section below.
The general map places Howard near the middle of the county, with Moline and Grenola to the southwest and Elk Falls and Longton to the south and southeast. A dense network of numbered roads crosses the rural landscape, but the settlement pattern remains easy to follow once Howard is fixed as the main reference point. The water and elevation views add another layer by showing the Elk River, numerous tributaries, and a relief range of approximately 252 to 503 meters.
The Kansas Historical Society identifies Elk County as part of southeastern Kansas and places it in the Osage Cuestas and Chautauqua Hills. It also notes that the county is named for the Elk River. Those facts match the supplied maps well: the west is noticeably higher and more strongly dissected, while the Elk River and its tributaries occupy lower corridors through the center and east.
Table of Contents
Howard as the settlement and road anchor
Howard is the easiest place to locate on the general county map. Several numbered roads meet or pass close to the city, giving it a clear central role in the road network. Moline lies southwest of Howard, Grenola farther west and southwest, Elk Falls to the south-southeast, and Longton farther to the southeast. Most of the county’s named communities therefore sit across the southern half rather than being evenly scattered from north to south.
Road numbers 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, and 21 appear around Howard, while Route 160 and Route 99 provide strong references farther south. Routes 26 and 27 help orient the eastern side near Longton, and several other numbered roads serve western rural areas. The map is designed for county-scale orientation, not live navigation, so current construction, closures, and driving conditions should be checked with up-to-date travel information.
The official Elk County website highlights five communities: Elk Falls, Grenola, Howard, Longton, and Moline. Those names are also the most visible settlement references on the supplied maps. North of Howard, the map contains fewer community labels and more roads and streams, so the landscape is easier to understand by using Howard and the south-side towns first and then extending orientation into the northern rural area.
Direct distances from Howard to the other main communities
The city connection map simplifies the county to Howard and four nearby communities. Moline is shown about 7 miles southwest of Howard, Elk Falls about 7 miles to the southeast, Longton about 12 miles farther southeast, and Grenola about 13 miles to the southwest. These are direct-distance references intended to communicate scale and direction. They should not be treated as current driving mileage.
The arrangement shows why Howard works so well as a geographic hub. Moline and Grenola provide western and southwestern reference points, while Elk Falls and Longton help organize the southeastern side. Large rural gaps separate the communities, so travel between them crosses open country, creek valleys, and rolling hills rather than continuous development.
The Kansas Historical Society lists Howard as the county seat and explains that Elk County takes its name from the Elk River. That connection between the administrative center and the river is useful when moving from the city map to the physical geography maps. Once Howard and the four surrounding communities are fixed in mind, the Elk River and the western uplands provide a second framework for understanding the county.
Elk River and the branching creek valleys
The terrain and water map is dominated by the Elk River, which enters from the northwest, crosses the central part of the county, and continues southeast. Rock Creek descends from higher northwestern terrain toward the river, while Pumpkin Creek marks another northern drainage. The Elk River corridor appears as a broad low route through the middle of the county and becomes an especially useful reference when the elevation map is viewed alongside it.
Farther east, Indian Creek crosses the northeastern area, and Hitchen Creek and Middle Pumpkinseed Creek form long valleys through the central-eastern terrain. Hickory Creek appears in the southeast. In the southwest, Wildcat Creek and the East Fork Caney River create a separate set of low corridors. The county therefore contains several drainage systems rather than one simple river channel with short tributaries.
Polk Daniels Lake is labeled near the central Elk River corridor, and Santa Fe Lake appears farther southwest. These water bodies provide useful local reference points in areas where settlement labels are sparse. The map is a geographic reference rather than a live flood, streamflow, or water-quality product. Current water conditions require observations from USGS or another responsible agency.
A 252–503 meter contrast between western hills and eastern lowlands
The elevation map shows an actual range of approximately 252 to 503 meters and a mean elevation near 341 meters. Brown and orange tones dominate the western edge, especially in the northwest and southwest, marking the county’s highest broad surfaces. Moving toward the center, the colors shift into lighter green, and the eastern half contains much more dark green associated with lower terrain.
The Elk River corridor creates one of the most obvious low routes across the map. Numerous tributaries cut into the surrounding hills, producing a dense pattern of ridges and narrow valleys. The west has the greatest vertical contrast at county scale, while the east is lower overall but still strongly dissected by streams. The landscape is therefore better described as rolling and valley-cut than as a flat plain.
The elevation surface is intended for broad geographic comparison rather than survey-grade measurement. It should not be used to establish an exact parcel elevation, design drainage, or replace engineering or legal survey data. Its value is visual context: the map makes it easy to see why the Elk River follows a low central route and why roads west of Howard cross more pronounced hills and valleys.
Osage Cuestas and Chautauqua Hills in southeastern Kansas
The Kansas Historical Society places Elk County in the Osage Cuestas and Chautauqua Hills. The supplied relief map makes that regional setting easy to visualize. Western Elk County is higher and more rugged, with many short valleys cut into the hills, while the central and eastern portions descend toward the Elk River and its tributaries. The change is gradual rather than a sharp boundary drawn across the county.
This terrain transition is also useful for understanding the location of the communities. Moline and Grenola lie closer to the higher southwestern country, while Elk Falls and Longton are positioned farther southeast where river and creek valleys become broader and lower. Howard sits between those settings and therefore works well as the county’s reference point for both roads and landforms.
The county’s name reinforces the importance of the Elk River. The Kansas Historical Society explains that Elk County was named for the river, which crosses the county and ultimately belongs to the Verdigris River system. That makes the river more than a physical feature on the map; it is part of the county’s identity and historical geography.
Using the maps for printing, study, and county orientation
For a quick introduction to Elk County, begin with Howard and then place Moline, Grenola, Elk Falls, and Longton around it. The general map adds roads and county boundaries, while the city connection view makes the settlement spacing easier to compare. This approach works well for school projects, local-history materials, trip preparation, and basic regional orientation.
For physical geography, follow the Elk River from the northwest through the center and then compare it with Rock Creek, Indian Creek, Hitchen Creek, Wildcat Creek, and the East Fork Caney River. The elevation map then shows how those drainage lines fit into a larger west-to-east change in relief. Switching between the water and elevation views connects the streams to the hills and valleys around them.
For printing or inclusion in a larger document, the high-resolution JPG files in the ZIP are preferable to the reduced web previews. They preserve labels and terrain detail at a size better suited to enlarged viewing. Anyone republishing or modifying the maps should check applicable source and attribution requirements. Projects that depend on current roads, live stream conditions, property boundaries, or exact elevations should pair these reference maps with the latest authoritative data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Howard on the Elk County map?
Howard sits near the middle of Elk County and serves as the county seat. Moline and Grenola lie to the southwest, while Elk Falls and Longton are to the south and southeast. Starting with Howard is the simplest way to organize the county’s principal settlements and roads.
Why is the Elk River important on the county map?
The Elk River crosses the county from the northwest through the center toward the southeast and forms one of the most important low corridors. Rock Creek and several smaller tributaries feed into the surrounding drainage network. The elevation map also shows the river corridor below many of the western hills. Live water levels and flood conditions require separate current sources.
Can the 252–503 meter elevation map be used for surveying?
No. The elevation map is a county-scale visual reference for comparing hills, ridges, and valleys. Exact parcel elevations, construction design, drainage engineering, and legal surveys require purpose-built data and professional methods appropriate to those tasks.
Map File Information
Download the high-resolution JPG files corresponding to the Elk County general, city connection, terrain-and-water, and elevation maps in one ZIP archive.
- Included Files: Use only the versions confirmed in the article and supplied images
- File Type: Use the confirmed download contents
- Intended Use: Printing, education, presentations, and map-based projects
Related Maps
Sources and references
- Elk County, Kansas official website — Howard and the county’s principal communities
- Kansas Historical Society — Elk County, Kansas — county seat, Elk River, Osage Cuestas, and Chautauqua Hills context
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line — boundary and geographic data resources
- USGS National Hydrography — hydrography and stream-network data information
- USGS 3D Elevation Program — elevation data information
Green Map creates custom-edited map images using open geographic data sources such as geoBoundaries, Natural Earth, OpenStreetMap, and government open data.
These maps are edited visual materials, not raw data files, and are provided for education, documents, presentations, and graphic reference.
